Friday, December 07, 2007

Get a life . . . Second Life


It's time to start addressing Second Life. . .

What is Second Life (SL)? Well according to Wikipedia (yes, I think Wikipedia is a good thing and don't just dismiss it because the content isn't controlled - but that's another posting) SL is an internet based virtual world developed by Linden Research, Inc A downloadable client program called the Second Life Viewer enables its users, called "Residents", to interact with each other through motional avatars, providing an advanced level of a social network service combined with general aspects of a metaverse. Residents can explore, meet other Residents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities, create and trade items (virtual property) and services from one another.

In addition, many well-know universities and businesses now have spaces in this virtual world and hold classes and business meetings. They even have a currency - Linden dollars.

It makes me wonder . . . Are the participants lying on the sofa, still in their pj's, filling their faces full of pop-tarts while participating in these meetings? I wonder what their avatars look like - are they even humanoid? Even more puzzling, are they clothed?

I'm not sure I understand (yet) this whole concept. Is SL something I have to do or something I want to do? If I leave for work at 7:45 and arrive home around 6pm - do I then head for SL or is it something to do after dinner and the dishes are done? Do I meet my friends there instead of getting together for coffee face-to-face? How will I recognize my friends anyway? Is the whole point of this to create another you? Or is the whole point of it to create who you wish you were?

I'm looking for answers. But gotta say that after the month that I've had - doing everything wrong and getting everyone pissed at me - I wish I had a Second Life to escape to . . .

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